Quick links

IChemE welcomes its first Silver Corporate Partner in the water sector

The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has presented Silver Corporate Partner status to United Utilities. The presentation took place at the company’s head office in Great Sankey, Warrington, UK.

The company reached bronze status in 2014, after showing a clear commitment to developing its in-house engineering team. United Utilities then embarked on additional activities to champion engineering professionalism and encourage young people to consider careers in science and technology. Great progress was made, resulting in the company being the first in the water sector to receive IChemE's Silver Corporate Partner status.

United Utilities graduate training scheme has been accredited by IChemE since 2010. The scheme is designed to provide newly-qualified engineers with eight, six-month placements across the business. Structured around IChemE’s competency framework, the scheme ensures that graduates gain the broad experience required to become Chartered Chemical Engineers.

The company also promotes Chartership and Continued Professional Development with its process engineering workforce at all stages in their careers.

The upgrade to Silver Partnership sees United Utilities join a select group of organisations in the silver category, which includes AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals), OSL Consulting Engineers (consultancy), and Larsen & Toubro (conglomerate).

Presenting the award, IChemE’s Director, Andy Furlong said:

“This was a superb submission by United Utilities. The commitment to engineering right across the business shines through, and they are blazing a trail in the water sector. I am delighted to present this award today, and wish them the best of luck in ramping up activity to achieve Gold partner status.”

Cathy Gillett, United Utilities’ Principal Process Engineer, who led the application process, said:

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement. Chemical engineering will be of central importance to United Utilities in the decades to come and that is why we are investing in the future of our workforce. We place tremendous importance on engineering professionalism, and Chartered Engineering status is a prerequisite for any process engineers seeking promotion to senior level in our company. It’s fantastic to have this commitment recognised by IChemE, and it’s an honour to join the ranks of Silver Corporate Partners.”

United Utilities Chief Process Engineer, Joanne Rands, was also presented with Fellow status by IChemE. The achievement is the highest level of IChemE membership and represents technical excellence and leadership within the profession.

United Utilities supplies 7 million people, from Crewe to Carlisle, with clean drinking water and waste services. It invested more than £3 billion in improving water infrastructure in the North West of England between 2010 and 2015, and has one of the largest engineering departments in the UK water industry.

About chemical engineers

Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, maths and economics in the process of turning raw materials into everyday, and more specialist, products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the products where chemical engineering plays a central role.

About IChemE

The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) is the global professional membership organisation for people with relevant experience or an interest in chemical engineering. With a growing global membership of over 44,000, the Institution is at the heart of the process community, promoting competence and a commitment to best practice, advancing the discipline for the benefit of society, encouraging young people in science and engineering and supporting the professional development of its members. IChemE is the only organisation to award Chartered Chemical Engineer and Professional Process Safety Engineer status.

About United Utilities

United Utilities holds a licence to provide water and sewage services to around seven million people in North West England. These services are carefully regulated with the water regulator, Ofwat, reviewing price limits every five years. Between 2010-2015 United Utilities invested more than £3 billion to improve the water and wastewater infrastructure and the environment across the North West, covering:

- Over 42,000 kilometres of water pipes, from Crewe to Carlisle
- Over 76,000 kilometres of sewers
- 569 wastewater treatment works
- 94 water treatment works
- Over 56,000 hectares of catchment land

Since 1990 the organisation has made major improvements right across the business, investing more than £4,000 for every household in the North West. Through this work it has:

- Halved the amount of leakage from networks, supported by ongoing investment to replace worn-out pipes
- Helped improve compliance with bathing water standards across the North West which has risen from just over 30% to more than 90%
- Improved water quality from 99.6% to over 99.9% - the best it's ever been.